吕祖曰∶知病之生死而后可为医，生中知死，死中知生，非易易也。伤寒七日不汗死是
也
予独
邪火
不死
如酣
死
入
药，正足以死之也。此死中之生而辨其死也。
华真人曰∶真奇绝之文。
吕祖曰∶痨瘵之症，用不得霸药，宜用清火之味。方用∶熟地五钱 地骨皮五钱（药虽
多而
五味
服，神
又有一法治人虚痨未成，痨瘵之症。方用∶熟地一两 山药一两 山茱萸三钱 麦冬三
钱
五钱
治
前方服之不效，必有痨虫尸气。另有一方∶鬼箭三钱 鳖甲一两 地栗粉半斤 生何首
乌半
两。各
半料即
无汗
葛真人曰∶此病难治，非偏于热，则偏于寒；非多于清，即多于补。当时无可遵之方，
今吕
不妨少
同服，则水胜
阴常不足，似
皮一钱半 山
人之善用六味
刘真人曰∶痨已成，最难治，有虫以食人之气血也。若徒补其气血，而不知杀虫之品，
饮食
入杀虫
八两 鳖
打成糊为丸
曹仙曰∶未成痨病，将要成者，方用∶熟地一两 地骨皮五钱 人参五分 北五味五分 白
术一钱 山药三钱 白芥子一钱。水煎服。妙在平补，无偏胜之弊。虽熟地多，有参、术以
行气，自易制其腻滞，故转奏功。倘谓参、术助阳，熟地过湿，举世不知其要也。
柳守真曰∶吾有一方，治痨虫神效。榧子半斤 鳖甲一斤 地栗粉八两 獭肝一付 白
薇四
吕祖说：了解疾病的生死预后，然后才可以行医。在生证中看出死机，在死证中看出生机，这并不是一件容易的事。例如伤寒病七天不出汗就会死亡，这是典型的死证。但我认为邪火炽盛虽然看似危重，却不一定致死；如果误用寒凉药物强行压制，反而会导致患者死亡。这就是从死证中辨别出生机的道理。
华真人说：真是奇特绝妙的文章。
吕祖说：治疗痨瘵（慢性消耗性疾病）的症状，不能使用猛烈霸道的药物，适宜使用清泻虚火的药味。方剂组成如下：熟地黄五钱，地骨皮五钱。（药味虽多但配伍精当，服用后神效显著。）
还有一种方法用于治疗虚劳尚未形成典型痨瘵症状的情况。方剂组成如下：熟地黄一两，山药一两，山茱萸三钱，麦冬三钱，五味子五钱。
如果服用前方无效，体内必有痨虫和尸气积聚。另有另一方：鬼箭羽三钱，鳖甲一两，荸荠粉半斤，生何首乌半两。各取半料煎服，即可见效。
葛真人说：这种病难以治疗，不是偏于热证，就是偏于寒证；不是多用清热药，就是多用补益药。当时没有可以遵循的固定方剂，现在吕祖的方子不妨稍微调整配合服用，则水能胜火，阴常不足之症可解。似有用地黄皮一钱半，山药……（原文此处残缺）人之善用六味地黄丸者……
刘真人说：痨病已经形成，最难治疗，因为有虫子在吞噬人的气血。如果只是单纯补益气血，而不知道使用杀虫的药物，饮食进入后……（原文此处残缺）加入杀虫药八两，鳖甲……打成糊状制成丸药。
曹仙说：对于尚未形成痨病、即将发病的情况，方剂组成如下：熟地黄一两，地骨皮五钱，人参五分，北五味子五分，白术一钱，山药三钱，白芥子一钱。用水煎服。妙处在于平和补益，没有偏胜的弊端。虽然熟地黄用量较多，但有参、术来行气，自然容易制约其滋腻停滞的特性，所以能迅速奏效。倘若认为参、术助阳，熟地黄过于湿滞，世人都不懂得其中的关键。
Lü Zu (Immortal Lü) said: Only by understanding the prognosis of life and death in diseases can one practice medicine. Identifying signs of death within conditions that appear curable, and identifying signs of life within critical conditions, is not an easy task. For instance, if a patient with Shanghan disease (Cold Damage) does not sweat after seven days, they will die; this is a typical fatal condition. However, I believe that although intense pathogenic fire appears critical, it does not necessarily lead to death. Conversely, if cold-natured medicines are mistakenly used to forcibly suppress the heat, it may indeed cause death. This illustrates discerning life from within a seemingly fatal situation.
Hua Zhenren (Perfected Person Hua) said: Truly a unique and exquisite text.
Lü Zu said: In treating Lao Zhai (chronic consumptive disease), one must not use harsh or overpowering medicines. Instead, herbs with properties to clear deficient heat should be preferred. The prescription is as follows: Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root) 5 qian, Di Gu Pi (Cortex Lycii) 5 qian. (Although the number of ingredients is large, the combination is precise, yielding miraculous effects upon consumption.)
Another method is used for treating deficiency labor (Xu Lao) before it develops into typical Lao Zhai symptoms. The prescription is as follows: Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root) 1 liang, Shan Yao (Dioscorea Rhizome) 1 liang, Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus Fruit) 3 qian, Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber) 3 qian, Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry) 5 qian.
If the previous prescription proves ineffective, there must be accumulation of "Lao worms" (parasitic pathogens) and corpse-like qi in the body. Another prescription is available: Gui Jian Yu (Branches of Euonymus) 3 qian, Bie Jia (Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis) 1 liang, Di Li Fen (Powder of Dioscorea esculenta/Bitter Yam) half jin, Sheng He Shou Wu (Raw Polygonum Multiflorum Rhizome) half liang. Take half of each ingredient, decoct with water, and take orally; efficacy will be achieved.
Ge Zhenren said: This disease is difficult to treat; it is either biased towards heat or bias towards cold; either more clearing agents are used, or more tonifying agents are used. At that time, there was no standard formula to follow. Now, with Lü Zu's formula, slight adjustments can be made for concurrent administration, allowing water to overcome fire, resolving the condition of chronic yin deficiency. It seems to involve using Di Huang Pi (Bark of Rehmannia Root) 1.5 qian, Shan Yao (Dioscorea Rhizome)... Those who skillfully use Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill)...
Liu Zhenren said: Once Lao disease has fully formed, it is the most difficult to treat, because parasites consume the person's qi and blood. If one merely tonifies qi and blood without knowing how to use antiparasitic substances, even after food intake... (text fragment) Add antiparasitic substances 8 liang, Bie Jia (Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis)... grind into a paste and form pills.
Cao Xian (Immortal Cao) said: For cases where Lao disease has not yet formed but is about to develop, the prescription is as follows: Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root) 1 liang, Di Gu Pi (Cortex Lycii) 5 qian, Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) 5 fen, Bei Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Chinensis Fruit) 5 fen, Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) 1 qian, Shan Yao (Dioscorea Rhizome) 3 qian, Bai Jie Zi (Sinapis Semen) 1 qian. Decoct with water and take orally. The brilliance lies in mild tonification, avoiding the drawback of excessive bias. Although Shu Di Huang is used in large quantities, Ren Shen and Bai Zhu promote qi movement, naturally counteracting its cloying and stagnating nature, thus achieving rapid results. If people mistakenly believe that Ren Shen and Bai Zhu assist yang, and that Shu Di Huang is overly dampening, they fail to understand the key principle.
Liu Shouzhen said: I have a prescription that is miraculously effective in treating Lao worms. Fei Zi (Torreya Seed) half jin, Bie Jia (Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis) 1 jin, Di Li Fen (Powder of Dioscorea esculenta) 8 liang, Da Gan (Liver of Hydrurga leptonyx/Sea Otter Liver) 1 piece, Bai Wei (Cynanchum Atratum Root) 4... (text fragment)